Ball tethered to a circular hoop

ABSTRACT

A game implement comprised of a circular hoop with a handle secured to the outer side thereof for being grasped in a person&#39;&#39;s hand, the hoop having a radially inwardly extending projection of flexible nature and to which there is secured one end of a tethering line, the opposite end of the tethering line being secured to a small ball, and which in operative use is attempted to be driven through the hoop from both opposite directions so to develop a score when the device is used competitively.

United States Patent Henry S. Smith 1226 E. 71st PL, Chicago, HI. 60619[21] App]. No. 14,433

[22] Filed Feb. 26, 1970 [45} Patented Oct. 12, i971 [72] Inventor [54]BALL TETHERED TO A CIRCULAR HOOP.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI 273/98 [51] Int. Cl [50] Field otSearch 273/98,97

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,038,724 6/1962 Klamp273/98 3,325,167 6/1967 Wolpert Primary Examiner-Richard C. PinkhamAssistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-Julius L. Solomon ABSTRACT: Agame implement comprised of a circular hoop with a handle secured to theouter side thereof for being grasped in a persons hand, the hoop havinga radially inwardly extending projection of flexible nature and to whichthere is secured one end of a tethering line, the opposite end of thetethering line being secured to a small ball, and which in operative useis attempted to be driven through the hoop from both opposite directionsso to develop a score when the device is used competitively.

BALL TETHERED TO A CIRCULAR HOOP This invention relates generally totarget toys. More specifically the present invention relates to tetheredball game toys.

A principal purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel gamedevice including a hoop and a tethered ball which a player is obliged todrive through the hoop center opening from each opposite side so as totest the players skill.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a game devicewhich can be used either by a single player or which can be played incompetition with other players so as to see which player obtains agreater score in maintaining the ball to travel back and forth throughthe hoop center opening before the ball finally misses.

Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide a gamedevice which can be played in a horizontal or vertical direction so thatthe ball can be moved horizontally back and forwardly through the hoopcentral opening, or wherein the ball can travel upwardly and downwardlythrough the hoop central opening.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a ball thru gamedevice which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of thefollowing specification and the accompanying drawing wherein: I

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is an edge elevation view thereof showing the game device inoperative use.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral representsa ball thru game device according to the present invention wherein thereis a target 1 1 made preferably of a single piece of plastic materialand which includes a relatively large circular hoop 12 around a centralopening 13. The hoop has an integral handle 14 on the outer sidethereof, the handle 14 extending along radially axis outwardly of thehoop. The handle 14 is adaptable accordingly for being grasped within aplayers hand 15, as shown in FIG. 2.

An extension 16 is also integrally formed on the target 11, theextension 16 comprising a relatively thin and flexible shaft thatextends from the hoop rim and to the center of the opening 13 andwherein the extension 16 is provided with a small opening 17 to whichthere is tethered one end of a rubberband band or string 18.

The opposite end of the tethered rubberband or string has a small rubberball 19 of circle shape secured thereto.

In operative use, the object of the game device is for a player to testhis skill and try to maintain the ball to bounce back and forth throughthe opening 13 of the hoop for an unlimited number of times before theball strikes out. This is accomplished as is indicated in FIG. 2 of thedrawing wherein the ball passes in reciprocating manner back and forthbetween a right and left side while the extension 16 flexes slightlyoutwardly of the opening 13 so as to not interfere with the ball in casethe same strikes thereagainst during passage through the hoop opening.

It is readily evident that the game device may be used either in ahorizontal direction or in a vertical direction depending on thepreference of the player. Accordingly the ball can be bounced back andforth through the hoop opening upwardly and downwardly as well as fromright to left as indicated in FIG. 2.

It is now also evident that in testing the skill of the player, thepresent game device may be used by a player alone or in competition withother players so as to see who gains the highest of the score before theball strikes out from passing through the opening of the hoop.

What I now claim is:

l. A ball through game apparatus comprising a circular hoop having innerand outer surfaces, a handle fixed to the outer surface of the said hoopand extending outwardly along a line radiating from the center of thehoop, a flexible member extending inwardly from a point along the innersurface of the hoop to the center of the hoop, a tethering linehavingltwp ends, one end of which is fastened to the free end of theexible member and the other end fastened to a ball which is of such sizethat it may pass freely through the hoop between the end of the flexiblemember and the inner surface of the hoop.

2. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the saidflexible member is formed with an eyelet at its free end.

3. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the said handleis an integral part of the hoop.

4. A ball through game apparatus as in claim I in which the saidflexible member is an integral part of the hoop.

5. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the handle andthe flexible member are both integral parts of the hoop.

6. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 5 in which the said hoop,handle and flexible member are molded in one piece of a material havingelastic properties so that the flexible member can act as a cantileverspring.

7. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 6 in which the saidflexible member and handle both lie along the same radial line.

8. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 6 in which the saidtethering line is made of a flexible material.

1. A ball through game apparatus comprising a circular hoop having innerand outer surfaces, a handle fixed to the outer surface of the said hoopand extending outwardly along a line radiating from the center of thehoop, a flexible member extending inwardly from a point along the innersurface of the hoop to the center of the hoop, a tethering line, havingtwo ends, one end of which is fastened to the free end of the flexiblemember and the other end fastened to a ball which is of such size thatit may pass freely through the hoop between the end of the flexiblemember and the inner surface of the hoop.
 2. A ball through gameapparatus as in claim 1 in which the said flexible member is formed withan eyelet at its free end.
 3. A ball through game apparatus as in claim1 in which the said handle is an integral part of the hoop.
 4. A ballthrough game apparatus as in claim 1 in which the said flexible memberis an integral part of the hoop.
 5. A ball through game apparatus as inclaim 1 in which the handle and the flexible member are both integralparts of the hoop.
 6. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 5 inwhich the said hoop, handle and flexible member are molded in one pieceof a material having elastic properties so that the flexible member canact as a cantilever spring.
 7. A ball through game apparatus as in claim6 in which the said flexible member and handle both lie along the sameradial line.
 8. A ball through game apparatus as in claim 6 in which thesaid tethering line is made of a flexible material.